On The Ball

A happy ending for Liverpool was not in the script

Liverpool seemed destined to be remembered as, in Roy Keane's brutal phrase, "bad champions". PHOTO: REUTERS
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

"It is almost impossible to qualify for the Champions League."

It was March and Jurgen Klopp, a manager defined by his optimism, sounded pessimistic.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.